Thursday, March 3, 2016

(Note: This column first appeared in AllNovaScotia.com on March 3, 2016)

It’s no surprise
that the recent advertisements and mail out to seniors from the Premier
apologizing for the Pharmacare debacle is raising concerns, not just within the
weeds of the political establishment, but also with many of the very seniors
who are targeted by the information. Reports suggest somewhere in the vicinity
of $130,000 has been spent apologizing for changes which should never have been
proposed in the first place.

The
government had already put out a widely covered press release and spoke to the
issue in the media. With the laser focussed attention many seniors have had on
the changes, it’s impossible to argue seniors were not aware the rollback of
changes which were announced on February 18th. Government also can’t
argue that the media did not cover the changes thus requiring this expenditure.

Making the
costs even more appalling is that the money spent exceeds some of the cuts made
to organizations supporting the health of Nova Scotians. Essentially the Department
of Health is saying it has money for political communication but not to support
delivery of important health programming.

When in
opposition Premier McNeil rightly criticized both the NDP and PC governments
for mailings, advertisements, and other communication which the government of
the day argued was necessary to update Nova Scotians about programs and
government initiatives. To end this practice, one of the first bills I
brought forward and saw passed after I became he Minister for Communications
Nova Scotia was an amendment to the Public Service Act which outlined new rules
for government communication. That statute ensures communication paid by the
government is “not directed at promoting partisan interests”.

It’s hard
to argue the recent Pharmacare advertisements and letter are anything but
promoting partisan interests and thus a violation of that law. The letter from
the Premier even goes so far as to step back from responsibility for the
changes, suggesting the proposed Pharmacare changes were reflective of
discussions with the group of nine seniors’ organizations, something which at
least some of those organizations have denied.

It’s not
about whether an apology was appropriate or needed. That’s a political
decision, and thus the real point. Government responsibility to advise Nova
Scotians of the changes was accomplished through the press release and
statements by the Premier which were widely reported across the province. Those
saying that the Liberal Party should have paid by for the ads and mailing are
correct. Not only did Premier McNeil oppose such expenditures in the past, but
if it is not strictly against the letter of the law in place since 2013, it is
certainly against the spirit of that law.